8 June 2004 -- Afghan officials say that at least four fighters loyal to rival Afghan factions have been killed in a clash in northern Afghanistan.

Interior Ministry spokesman Lutfullas Mashal said that the clash yesterday outside the city of Mazar-i Sharif was part of rising tensions in recent days between Hizb-e Wahdat, a minority Shi'ite Muslim faction and the Sunni Muslim Jamiat-e Islami group led by Ata Mohammad.